**French Embassy Accused of Hiding Grant Details in Georgia**
The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, has spoken out against the French Embassy for what he sees as a lack of transparency regarding a grant issued before the adoption of the Law on Grants. In a statement, Papuashvili accused the embassy of indirectly financing rallies through its grant to a research laboratory.
According to Papuashvili, the French Ambassador‘s refusal to disclose details about the grant suggests that they are trying to hide something. He pointed out that if there was nothing to hide, then why is there resistance? This comment echoes a quote from Jim Risch, which highlights the importance of transparency in international diplomacy.
The controversy centers around a grant issued by the French Embassy to the Soviet Past Research Laboratory, which won a competition announced by the embassy to support civil society projects in Georgia. The project aims to create new tourist routes in Gori and Kutaisi that explore Georgia’s Soviet past and showcase key memorial sites related to resistance against the Soviet totalitarian regime.
However, Papuashvili suspects that this grant is actually being used for indirect financing of rallies by paying members of radical parties to draw up tourist routes. He pointed out that the French Embassy’s statement about a competition does not provide any details, which raises suspicions about the true purpose of the grant.
Papuashvili also criticized the French Ambassador for not considering Georgian people as equals, implying that some individuals view Georgia as their “backyard.” He reminded ambassadors that they are guests in Georgia and have a responsibility to be transparent about their actions.
**Background and Analysis**
The controversy surrounding the French Embassy’s grant highlights concerns about foreign influence on domestic politics. The fact that the grant was issued before the adoption of the Law on Grants raises questions about whether it is being used for political purposes.
Papuashvili’s comments also echo a larger concern in Georgia about how foreign governments and organizations are influencing domestic politics. In recent years, there have been allegations of indirect financing of rallies by foreign powers.
The French Embassy’s decision to keep details about the grant confidential has fueled suspicions that they may be trying to hide something. As Papuashvili pointed out, if there was nothing to hide, then why is there resistance?
**Conclusion**
The controversy surrounding the French Embassy’s grant highlights the need for transparency and accountability in international diplomacy. The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, has spoken out against what he sees as a lack of transparency and has accused the embassy of indirectly financing rallies.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this controversy will affect relations between France and Georgia. However, one thing is clear: the Georgian people are demanding greater transparency and accountability from foreign governments and organizations operating in their country.
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